Frantic ostriches cause quite a stir

A couple of wayward ostriches — which had been chased from their home by a band of marauding dogs — caused a spectacle Sunday as they ran back and forth on a busy SeaTac road before being corralled by police and animal-control officers.

According to a spokesman with the King County Sheriff's Office, two ostriches were seen running up the middle of the road near South 168th Street and 37th Avenue South in the city of SeaTac around 4 p.m.

"They were reported running down the middle of the road heading north," said Deputy Bob Conner. "Then they were running south, then apparently they were walking because they became exhausted."

Al Dams, with King County animal control, said three of the flightless birds had been on their owner's fenced property when the dogs broke through the fence and chased them. Two ostriches escaped, while one died.

Police, animal-control officers and the birds' owner worked together for about two hours to corral the two surviving ostriches, police said.

Animal-control officers said they were still looking for the dogs.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com